Dr. Pauline Olsen of Malta House of Care Wins National Point of Light Award

Posted by mmurphy4, Community Contributor

Dr. Pauline Olsen (center) with two patients outside the Malta House of Care Mobile Medical Clinic van in Hartford.

Dr. Pauline Olsen (center) with two patients outside the Malta House of Care Mobile Medical Clinic van in Hartford. (Posted by mmurphy4, Community Contributor)

Community Contributor mmurphy4

Dr. Pauline Olsen, a beloved retired obstetrician, has received a national award for her volunteer service at the Malta House of Care Mobile Medical Clinic, which she helped to found in 2006 and where she continues to see patients twice a week.

On August 9, 2018, Dr. Olsen was given "Daily Point of Light Award Number 6,323" by Points of Light, the world's largest organization dedicated to volunteer service. Founded by President George H.W. Bush in 1990 to recognize individuals making a difference in their communities, the Points of Light organization now gives five Daily Point of Light Awards each week in the United States and the United Kingdom.

"This award recognizes exceptional individuals who are using their time, talent, voice, and treasure to improve the lives of others," said Jacqueline Innocent, vice president at Points of Light. "These points of light, like Dr. Olsen, make an impact on individuals while also helping build resilient communities."

"Dr. Olsen joined this mission at its beginning and has spent countless hours treating patients, mentoring medical professionals, and always finding just the right way to help," said Attorney Peter G. Kelly, Sr., chairman emeritus of the Malta House of Care Foundation, who also helped to found the mobile clinic. "Through it all, her beautiful way with people abounds."

A Farmington resident, Dr. Olsen retired in 2005 after practicing for 28 years as an ob-gyn affiliated with Saint Francis Hospital. That's when she began her second "career" - as a volunteer.

In 2006, along with other Hartford-area men and women who belong to the International Order of Malta (a Catholic lay organization whose mission is to serve the sick and poor), Dr. Olsen launched the Malta House of Care mobile clinic, which visits four challenged neighborhoods each week to provide free primary care to uninsured adults. Dr. Olsen volunteers on the van every Wednesday and Thursday.

Since its founding, Malta has provided 48,272 free patient visits to people who might otherwise have gone to the ER - or, worse, have gotten no care at all.

"Many uninsured adults have multiple chronic illnesses; they work two or three part-time jobs; and they are scared," said Dr. Olsen, 82. "What is so wonderful about the Clinic is that they feel they can trust us, and we go to them in their neighborhoods - making it easier for them to see us.

"This is why I became a doctor - to take care of people," she added. "At the end of the day, these patients are so grateful for what we do."

Through her work on the Malta medical van, Dr. Olsen realized that many patients were also hungry. And so, in 2012, she founded (and still manages) the Malta Food Pantry at St. Justin's Church in the North End of Hartford. The Pantry distributes more than 100,000 meals each year.

Dr. Olsen has also participated in medical missions to Haiti and the Dominican Republic through the Haitian Humanitarian Network.

"Dr. Olsen has been a Point of Light for her entire life," said Kathleen Doyle of Rocky Hill, a nurse at Orthopedic Associates of Hartford. "Through the many years (that she was my doctor) she was the finest example of a wonderful, caring physician who treated the whole patient. Congratulations on recognizing what many knew already!"

"She's touched so many lives, and has been a lifeline and lifesaver through her many good deeds,"agreed Janice England Cirikovic of Farmington, whose family has known Dr. Olsen for nearly 20 years. "I call her a saint."

Points of Light engages four million volunteers in 30 million hours of service each year; for more information, visit www.pointsoflight.org.